Boston/Cleveland American League recap on ESPN

MLB


		Scores/Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries Players Message board Weekly lineup

Sunday, Apr. 30 1:05pm ET
Martinez continues dominance over Indians

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Pedro's still perfect against the Indians. And perfectly despised by them.


	After Pedro Martinez delivered some inside heat to Einar Diaz, Charles Nagy plunked Jose Offerman.

Pedro Martinez, who has owned Cleveland's soul the past two years, remained unbeaten against the Indians on Sunday by taking a shutout into the eighth inning before being ejected for hitting Roberto Alomar in Boston's 2-1 victory.

Martinez may still be unbeaten in his career against the Indians, but he did lose something on Sunday -- respect.

"He's the best pitcher in the game," Alomar said. "We know he's going to pitch inside. But the other stuff, he went too far."

Many of the Indians thought Martinez was intentionally throwing at Einar Diaz, who had doubled twice off him, in the seventh inning. They became even more upset in the eighth when Martinez stayed in the Boston dugout after Cleveland's Charles Nagy hit Jose Offerman, emptying both dugouts and bullpens.

"It was obvious he was throwing at Einar," said Omar Vizquel. "That was pretty (cheap). Then he doesn't come out and fight. That's pretty chicken right there."

The Pedro files

Pedro's career mark against Cleveland:

April 30, 2000: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 10 K's, one ejection

1999 Division Series: Pitched 10 scoreless innings and got the win in relief in Game 5 when he pitched six hitless innings with eight K's.

Sept. 15, 1999: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 14 K's (no-decision)

Aug. 3, 1999: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 7 K's (no-decision)

May 29, 1999: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 9 K's (win)

April 25, 1999: 9 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 10 K's (win)

1998 Division Series: Won Game 1, allowing three runs in seven innings.

1998: Went 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 24 K's in 25 IP

Martinez (5-0) allowed four hits, walked three and struck out 10 to win his 13th straight decision.

He also improved 7-0 against the Indians, whom he beat in Game 5 of the Division Series last year when he got off the trainer's table with a bad back to pitch six hitless innings of relief.

He realizes he's not a popular person in Cleveland, and he couldn't care less.

"I'm just going to do my job, and if that's going to cost people liking me, that's fine with me," he said. "What? I'm not allowed to pitch inside?"

In the seventh, Martinez twice came high and tight to Diaz, once knocking the Indians catcher down. Diaz stared out at the mound before getting back in the batter's box but continued to exchange dirty looks with Martinez after striking out.

"That was not about throwing inside," Alomar said. "We were upset with him for throwing at Einar, but after he struck him out, he didn't have to keep staring at him all the way to the dugout. That's no respect."

Martinez explained that he wasn't trying to send any kind of message with his tight pitches.

"I just wanted to get him to jam," Martinez said. "He's diving over and he got me twice on the outside corner, so I pitched him in. I don't know why they would get upset about some pitches that were up and in, especially against a guy that's diving in. I'm sorry they think that way."

When Offerman came up in Boston's eighth, Nagy (1-4) hit him in the side and players spilled out of both benches and dugouts. Martinez remained in the dugout at first but finally came out after several of the Indians, including reliever Scott Kamieniecki, urged him onto the field.

"I thought everyone in the stadium saw how much guts he has by throwing at a guy's head and then staying in the dugout," Kamieniecki said. "I don't see how his teammates can respect him. Everyone respects his ability -- he's the best pitcher in baseball. But this isn't the same.

"At least he stayed in the dugout. Last year in Baltimore, he hit a guy and ran into the clubhouse."

Martinez didn't understand why Kamieniecki was so upset.

"The only guy talking trash was Kamieniecki," Martinez said.. "He dared me to come out and I came out. I wasn't scared to come out. I just know what to do. There's nothing to point fingers at. It's part of the game."

Martinez chose to keep a safe distance, but he was in the middle of things moments later when he drilled Alomar in the right buttock. Alomar tried to go after Martinez before being grabbed by Boston catcher Jason Varitek.

Again the two teams met in the middle of the infield, but perhaps in light of the stiff suspensions given to the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox last week, they decided not to fight.

Martinez was the only player ejected, and was booed as he walked slowly to the Boston dugout. Martinez hadn't been tossed from a game since Sept. 24, 1996, when he was with Montreal and had a reputation for throwing at batters.

Also ejected was Boston manager Jimy Williams, who chose his words very carefully when asked if he was upset with Martinez for getting thrown out of a two-run game in the eighth inning.

"This," Williams said as he interlocked his fingers, "is so important. That's a team."

Alomar eventually got to third and David Justice got to second with two outs off Derek Lowe, but Fryman grounded out to third.

Lowe allowed a solo homer in the ninth to Richie Sexson, snapping a 32 at-bat hitless string for the Indians against Lowe in the regular season. But Lowe got Alomar to ground to short with a runner at third for the final out to get his fifth save.

Mike Stanley homered and Trot Nixon had an RBI groundout as the Red Sox avoided a sweep in the first meeting between the teams since last October's playoffs.

All three games in the series were tight one-run games, highlighted by stellar starting pitching, solid defense and bullpen work.

"When you get two teams going at it like that, sometimes things happen," Williams said. "There wasn't any fighting and I think that's important."

Game notes
Kenny Lofton, who is batting .440 (12-for-29) against Martinez, was placed on the 15-day DL Sunday with a strained biceps muscle. Jacob Cruz went on the 60-day DL with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg. Cruz is expected to miss the rest of the year. ... Martinez has 57 career double-digit strikeout games. Nolan Ryan is the career leader with 215. ... Jolbert Cabrera, recalled before the game, got a loud ovation following an 11-pitch at-bat in the third.